INTRODUCTION: William Lee once wrote, "It is not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are: nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they are; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be; nor the music of our prayers, how sweet our voice may be; nor the logic of our prayers, how argumentative they may be; nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be -- which God cares for. Fervency of spirit is that which availeth much."

In the concluding part of Ephesians chapter three Paul bows the knees in petition to God on behalf of his brethren in Ephesus. It is a deeply moving, fervent prayer. 

BODY
I. PAUL BOWED THE KNEES IN PETITION TO GOD. (Verses 14-15).

A. It was a bowing of the knees to the Father.
1. Paul does not address this prayer to the creator of the universe, or the one who was above all, through all, and in you all, as he did at other places. Here is uses that fact that God is our dear loving father. He is concerned for us. He cares for His people.

2. The is the grand and glorious truth that Christians enjoy a special relationship with Jehovah as His child.

3. Romans 8:15- "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father.""

4. Galatians 4:6, 7- "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' 7- "Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

B. What is the significance of bowing the knees?

1. It clearly does not mean that it is the only position of petition before the Father.

a. Abraham stood while interceding God concerning Sodom (Genesis 18:22). David sat in prayer (1 Chronicles 17:16). Jesus fell on his face and prayed to God (Matthew 26:39).

2. What would bowing the knees before God signify?

a. It shows an attitude of submission. We are coming before one who is greater than ourselves, one who has dignity and authority. It would show that Paul, even though he calls God Father, shows that he has deep respect for the Father.

(1.) Psalms 95:6, 7- "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. 7- "For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:"

b. It is a sign of intense emotion. Paul is not just casually wording empty words before the throne of God. It intensely desires that the Father grant his pleadings. 

(1.) Ezra fell on his knees and stretched out his hands in confession to the Lord in behalf of the people of God (Ezra 9:5-6).

(2.) Paul knelt down and prayed with the Ephesian elders on his departure from them (Acts 20:36).

A. Paul was not praying that they might have physical strength.

1. It was the "inner man" or spirit that the Holy Spirit would strengthen.

2. It is this part of man which will remain, which is really important.

a. 2 Corinthians 4:16- "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."

b. 1 Peter 3:4- "rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."

B. How does that strength from the Holy Spirit come?

1. Most people think that this means that the Holy Spirit will give a person direct power through a miraculous working. If that is the case, then we would lose any freedom of choice. God, like the Calvinists hold, will simply give blessings through the Spirit to whomever He chooses without any submission on the part of the one being blessed.

2. However, this is simply not how Paul tells us that the Spirit works.

a. Ephesians 6:11-17

A. He wants Christ to dwell in their hearts.

1. He was to be a permanent resident, not a part-time guest.

2. He is to be enthroned as Lord of our lives.

3. Colossians 3:16- "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

B. Christ is to live in and through us.

1. Galatians 2:20- ""I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

2. Colossians 1:27- "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

IV. PAUL PRAYED THAT THEY MIGHT BE STABLE IN LOVE (Verse 17).

A. Our Lord pleaded that we have lives dedicated to loving one another.

1. John 13:34, 35- ""A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35- ""By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.""

B. Our love must be stable and sure. We must not by hypocritical, claiming to love God, while hating others.

1. 1 Peter 1:22- "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,"

2. 1 John 4:20, 21 - "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 - And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."

3. Romans 12:9, 10 - "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 - Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;"

V. PAUL PRAYED THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE THE POWER OF CHRIST'S LOVE. (Verse 18-19a)
 

A. Look at the dimensions of Christ's love.

1. Romans 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39- "nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

2. There is no force powerful enough to pull away the faithful Christian from the love of Christ.

B. The duration of Christ's love.

1. The love of Christ is never ending. It will not fade away by reason of time or space. In fact it is the one thing that will be lasting in this world.

2. 1 Corinthians 13:8- "Love never fails."

C. The distinctiveness of Christ's love

1. Divine love is different than the love that we have for one another.

2. Romans 5:6-8 "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7- or scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8- But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

a. God's love doesn't depend on our ability to love Him back.

b. God's love is not limited to just his friends.

c. God's love is demonstrated by an act of unbelievable sacrifice.

D. The mighty power of Christ's love.

1. It turned a tax collector to a disciple.

2. It turned unlearned fishermen in to powerful proclaimers. 

3. It turned a persecutor in to the persecuted.

4. The love of Christ is life changing.

a. 2 Corinthians 5:14 - For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;

A. What does Paul mean when he says that we should be "filled with all the fullness of God?"

1. This seems to mean that they should be completely satisfied.

2. It seems to be a completely being "filled to the brim" with the blessings of God, our Father.

3. When understood in the context of the passage it shows that Christian's life should be totally wrapped in his relationship with God. This would be the Christian who has received power and might from the Holy Spirit through the Word, has fully appreciated the love of God with its life changing power, and patterned their love life after God. They are filled completely with love and appreciation for the person of Jehovah God.

B. What do the Scriptures say?
 

1. Ephesians 5:18 - And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

2. Psalms 17:15 - As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

3. Matthew 5:6

4. Colossians 1:9 - For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

VII. PAUL IS CONFIDENT THAT GOD CAN MAKE US WHAT WE SHOULD BE. (Verse 20).

A. We can rest assured that God has the ability to make us what we need to be.
 

1. Philippians 3:21 - who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

2. Romans 4:21 - and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

3. "Exceedingly abundantly" is a "super superlative." That is, it is used to demonstrate an over abundance of ability on the part of God.

4. Philippians 4:19 - And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

5. Ephesians 1:19 - and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

B. We can also rest assured that God can use us in the church to do all that He wants us to do.

1. John 14:12-14 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 - And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 - If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

2. Ephesians 2:10

CONCLUSION: God is able to do wonderful things in and through us, if we will only submit to Him, love Him, and appreciate God and all that He has do for us. James gives us the key. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." ( James 4:8).

Copyright 1999 by Grady Scott may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.